Chaisley loved the idea that her letter had reached the young girl. “I wrote her in braille and encouraged her to respond in kind.”
“Did you tell her?”
The question hung in the air.
Over the years, Chaisley never wanted any special treatment because she couldn’t see. In fact, she’d done her best to keep it hidden from everyone except those closest to her. She didn’t want or need anyone’s pity. She simply wanted to be herself. Being a famous concert pianist drew enough attention as it was.
“No.” She whispered the word then lifted her chin. “I haven’t told her.”
“Hm.” Melanie didn’t expand on that but settled into the couch. “So why tell her to write to you in braille?”
Silence fell as Chaisley’s fingers traced the lip of the envelope. “Nothing is wrong, Mel. I’ll read my letter and then come down for dinner.”
Her companion didn’t respond with words, but came close and gave Chaisley’s shoulders a squeeze.
She bit her lip, covering Melanie’s hand with her own. It wasn’t her intention to worry her friend. But she wasn’t sure she could explain all the swirling emotions inside her right now.
Soft footsteps were followed by the click of the door.
Tugging the letter free of the envelope, she found two pages. With practiced movements, she ran her fingers over the raised dots.
Dear Miss Chaisley,
I have been floating in the clouds ever since we received your letter. And you wrote it in braille! That was very thoughtful of you.
My piano teacher told me that you arranged tickets for all of us to several of your concerts. My mother cried happy tears.
My mom is the best, though she is very sad right now. We help each other, but ever since we had to move from our house in Berlin, she hasn’t been the same. Mom said bad men were trying to hurt us. So we have to hide in this new place. I think we are still in Germany, but I don’t know for sure. But my teacher knows where we are.
I try to be encouraging and positive, even though it is smelly. And we can’t play our records.
I miss my records. I used to listen to your records all the time. Music makes me happy and helps me when I try to do math. I don’t like math, but Mom says I have to learn it.
Thank you for making beautiful music.
Thank you for writing me, please write back.
Mary Beth
Tears ran down Chaisley’s cheeks. The paper shook in her hands. Bad men were after Mary Beth and her mum? Whatever for? She fished her handkerchief out of her skirt pocket. Wiping her face, she sniffed back the rest of her tears. She shuffled Mary Beth’s letter with the other page and started reading.
Dear Miss Frappier,
I don’t know if you will read this letter. Mary Beth was so excited to write you. Thank you for giving my daughter the gift of a lifetime by writing her back. I know she told you many times how much she loves your music. It is lovely and inspirational. God has gifted you. I am thankful that you share that gift with our world.
It is a world that is so dark right now.
Your letter encouraged me to lift my face out of the darkness I’ve been living in. Mary Beth told me that she wrote you of what was done to me. Apparently, I am less than human in the Nazi way of thinking, and so I shouldn’t be allowed to bring another life into this world. I have heard horrible stories about others who have been taken away to special schools and hospitals, but I don’t know what is true anymore.
Chaisley had to stop reading for a moment and clear her thoughts. So what Dr. Grafton had said was true. Who else was having to endure such atrocities?
I don’t know if you are a God-fearing woman, but if you are, would you pray for us, Miss Frappier? We have had to escape our home and are currently in hiding. Germany has become a horrible place to live. Especially for the Jews and others like us.
Many friends of mine, who also have disabilities, have been arrested or taken from their homes. It has become asin in Germany to be disabled. We are marked as unworthy. Of love. Of family. Even of life.
But that is not the truth. It does not matter if we are born blind or seeing, able to walk or in need of a wheelchair, hearing or deaf. I firmly believe we are all born for the glory of God. But there are those who see us as a scourge on the earth.
Please pray, Miss Frappier. That God would have mercy on us and get us to safety.
